Bullied gay teen Jadin Bell dies at OHSU
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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A hospital official says an Eastern Oregon teenager who tried to commit suicide at a school playground has died.
The spokesman with the Oregon Health and Science University says 15-year-old Jadin Bell died at the Portland hospital early Sunday afternoon.
The teen attempted to hang himself Jan. 19 at an elementary school playground in La Grande, about 250 miles east of Portland.
A family friend, Bud Hill, told The Oregonian newspaper earlier this week that the boy's family has always been very supportive of the boy's sexual orientation, but some classmates called him names, and he had complained about bullying to a school counselor.
Bell was a high school sophomore at La Grande High School.
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I have been bullied my whole life! The only thing that kept me from suicide was Father McQuin who told me i would burn in hell for all eternity if I died with a mortal sin on my soul, by killing myself.
Ever since, i have just lived in hell on earth waiting for the lord to take me without the help of my own hand.
Hurry up God!
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RIP young man.  My condolences to the family.Â
This is a very sad ending to a problem that seems to be getting worse instead of better. I agree that parents need to teach their children to be tolerant of others, even if they don't agree or like their lifestyle. I know that I sound like a broken record at times, but again our society or a portion of the society has been pushing the word "hate". What do you think kids think of when they here all the adults saying it is hate this and hate that, hate crimes, etc. etc. You know you can disagree or dislike something without "hating" it. "Hate" is at the exteme end of the emotional spectrum, with adoration being at the other end, and dislike somewhere in between. Parents teach your children to be thoughtful. Don't try to force them to like someone or even agree with their beliefs, but be thoughtful. Teach them to be individuals and not sheep. Teach them to lead and not follow. Teach them to stand up for those that can't stand up for themselves. By the way this young man was seeing a counselor, I have to wonder what the counselor did? For all you parents that feel you have to teach your kids to tough and rugged, that is fine as long as you teach them to be gentle and caring along with it. Being a man does not mean you can whip every kid on the block. Again it is really a shame this young man felt that this was his only alternative.Â
@souptonuts One of your best posts, STN!
 @souptonuts You offer good advice!
This starts at home, folks. These bullies are horrid little clones of their parents. My condolences to the family & friends of the dear young man.
 @Bob's MomYou are 100% correct that bullying starts at home...and should end at home. Even if kids learned it elsewhere, I'm sure responsible parents would pick up on it at home at put an end to it there on the spot.
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As I said in an earlier comment, it's not only the bullies, but the bullies parents that did not put a stop to it that are responsible for his suicide.
This is so very sad this young man was driven to take his own life.
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As far as I'm concerned, the ones who taunted him, called him names, bullied him as well as the school officials who did nothing to stop it are guilty assisted suicide. I hope they live with this guilt for the rest of their lives.
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Something very similar happened to one of my sixth grade classmates in 1961 in Junction City. He was a new kid and from what I remember didn't have many friends yet in school. One Saturday while his dad went into town he hung himself out in the barn. My parents took food down to he family later the next day, and his mom sent a bunch of his toys back to me as I guess I was one of his few friends. It took me many, many months before I'd even open his toys. Til this day it haunts me when I read a story like Jadin's wondering if I could have somehow stopped my classmate from taking his own life? Guess I'll never know.
My condolence to his family and friends. This is so sad.Â
I am so sorry this has to happen to these young kids.
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Rest in Paradise, young man! You will be missed by lots of people.
RIP young Mr. Jadin Bell. May your light shine on and brighten other people's lives, and may you find peace.